Requirements & Courses
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Major Requirements
Thirty-six credits which must include:
1. Core Courses (28 cr): CHM-115, 223, 224, 230, 320, 331, and 332
2. Select Area of Concentration:
- Chemistry: eight credits from CHM-251, 300 or 400 level courses, BCM-321 or 422. At least four credits must be at or above the 300 level.
- American Chemical Society Certified Degree: CHM-313 and 314; BCM-321; and four credits chosen from CHM-399, 411, 499, or BCM-422 (must include 150 lab hours).
- Pre-Medicine: BCM-321 and four credits from 300 or 400 level courses in Chemistry (see Program Considerations below); The American Chemical Society Certified Degree is also available with the pre-medicine concentration.
3. Successful completion of CHM-450.
Cognate Courses Required for All Chemistry Majors:
1. MTH-121 and MTH-122
2. PHY-121 and PHY-122; or PHY-112 and PHY-113
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Program Considerations
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Potential majors are advised to schedule MTH-121 and 122 and PHY-121 and 122 (or PHY-112 and 113) in the freshman and sophomore years so they may enroll in CHM-331 and 332 in the junior year.
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Completion of an independent research project normally culminating in a senior thesis is recommended. Students bound for graduate school should make careful course selections to support their particular area of emphasis; participation in research, completion of CHM-313, 314 and 411, MTH-210 and 211 should be considered.
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Experience with calculus based physics (PHY- 121 and 122) is preferred over PHY-112 and 113.
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The Chemistry department strongly recommends, in order to be a competitive medical school applicant, students completing a Chemistry major also take genetics and physiology, in addition to considering upper level electives from Biology, Biochemistry or Integrated Physiology and Health Science.
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In addition, students who plan to take the MCAT at the end of the junior year are encouraged to take CHM-115 in the fall of their first year so that BCM-321 can be completed in advance of taking the MCAT (CHM-115, 223, 224, 230 and BIO-121 are prerequisites to BCM-321).
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Departmental Honors
Students may achieve honors in Chemistry by:
- Earning a 3.5 GPA in all chemistry classes.
- Performing at a superior level in departmental Senior Seminar.
- Preparing and presenting a senior thesis of honors caliber. See the Department chair for details on how to fulfill the thesis requirements.
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Minor requirements
Twenty-four credits which must include: Eight credits numbered 300 or above (BCM-321 and 422 may also be applied toward this minor)
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Teaching Major Requirements
Completion of the requirements for the Chemistry major.
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Teaching Minor Requirements
Twenty-four credits which must include:
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CHM-115, 223, 224, 230 and BCM-321
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Four credits from CHM-320, 331 or 332
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American Chemical Society Certified Degree
American Chemical Society Certified Degree Completion of CHM-115, 223, 224, 230, 313, 314, 320, 331, 332, 450, BCM-321 and four credits chosen from CHM-399, 411, 499, or BCM-422. Completion of 400 hours of laboratory work beyond CHM-115 is required. If independent study is used to satisfy the ACS-certified degree requirements, a written research report is required. Students must consult with the Chemistry chair prior to their junior year for approval of their program.
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Four credits from CHM, with the exception of practicum or independent study courses, count towards the Distributive Requirements in the Natural Sciences - Physical Sciences.
Courses
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CHM103M.Basic Chemical Investigations4 creditsPrerequisite: MTH-100 or PlacementBasic chemical phenomena and methodology for non-science majors. Topics center on real-world problems and societal issues with significant chemical content. Laboratory uses modern chemical instrumentation including spectrophotometers. Does not count toward the Chemistry major or minor. DR and academic credit will only be awarded to one of CHM-103 or CHM-115. Spring Term only. Laboratory. Course fee.
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CHM115.Chemical Analysis4 creditsPrerequisite: MTH-110 or PlacementIntroduction to the basic principles of chemistry in a context of chemical analysis. Intended for students in the sciences. Includes the periodic table, elements, ionic and covalent compounds, stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, spectroscopy, gases, pH and acid-base and oxidation-reduction reactions. DR and academic credit will only be awarded to one of CHM-103 or CHM-115. Laboratory. Course fee.
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CHM199.Chemistry Independent Study1 creditPrerequisite: PermissionPlanned program of reading or laboratory experimentation. Course fee.
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CHM223.Organic Chemistry I4 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-115Study of the chemistry of carbon-containing compounds, emphasizing the various functional groups and their transformations, reaction mechanisms and stereochemistry, and the development of synthetic schemes. Laboratory. Course fee.
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CHM224.Organic Chemistry II4 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-115, 223Study of the chemistry of carbon-containing compounds, emphasizing the various functional groups and their transformations, reaction mechanisms and stereochemistry, and the development of synthetic schemes. Laboratory. Course fee.
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CHM230.Inorganic Chemistry4 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-224 or PermissionStudy of the chemistry of the metals and non-metals emphasizing periodic behavior, elementary thermodynamics, ionic and covalent structures, oxidation and reduction reactions, acid-base chemistry, equilibria, transition metal complexes and reaction kinetics. Laboratory. Course fee.
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CHM251.Chemistry of Ordinary Things4 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-223An exploration of the applications of principles of general and organic chemistry of everyday phenomena. Additional topics include an introduction to drug design and aspects of spectroscopy to probe molecular structure. Laboratory. Course fee.
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CHM280.Topics in Chemistry4 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-230Chemical topics chosen by the instructor. May be taken more than once for credit. Course fee may apply.
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CHM299.CHM Independent Study1 creditPlanned program of reading or laboratory experimentation. Course fee. Requires instructor permission.
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CHM310.Medicinal Chemistry2 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-230Study of the molecular aspects of drug function leading to an understanding of the basis for rational drug design. Discussion of physical-chemical properties and their effect on biological activity, structure-activity relationships, drug metabolism and receptor theory.
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CHM311.Environmental Chemistry2 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-230Introduction to environmental chemistry, emphasizing the origins, transport, reactions, effects and fates of chemical species in the water, air, soil and living environments.
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CHM312.Fragrance and Flavor Chemistry2 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-230A study of the physiological basis for smell and taste, history of fragrances and flavors, origins and analysis of natural materials and raw materials for and production of synthetic ingredients. The fragrance and flavor industry, marketing and product application will also be discussed. There is no separately assigned lab, however students will be engaged in laboratory exercises. Course fee.
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CHM313.Inorganic Structures2 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-230A survey of inorganic species including symmetry, bonding models and spectroscopy. An overview of the reactions of organometallic compounds will be included.
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CHM314.Bioinorganic Chemistry2 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-230The study of the use of metals by biological species emphasizing inorganic models, reaction types and reaction mechanisms.
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CHM320.Instrumental Analysis4 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-230Principles and laboratory methods of chemical analysis using instrumentation: chromatography, spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, atomic absorbance and ion selective electrodes. Laboratory. Course fee.
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CHM331.Chemical Thermodynamics4 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-230, MTH-122 and PHY-113 or 122The laws of thermodynamics are applied to chemical mixtures and reactions, and the principles of statistical mechanics are used to derive these laws from the behavior of single molecules. Laboratory. Course fee.
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CHM332.Quantum Chemistry4 creditsPrerequisite: CHM-230, MTH-122 and PHY-113 or 122The principles of quantum mechanics are used to describe the structure of atoms and molecules and their spectroscopic properties. The kinetics of chemical reactions are studied and rate laws are derived. Laboratory. Course fee.
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CHM380.Topics in Chemistry1 creditPrerequisite: CHM-230Chemical topics chosen by the instructor. May be taken more than once for credit.
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CHM399.Chemistry Independent Study1 creditPrerequisite: PermissionLaboratory investigation of an original problem. Course fee.
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CHM450.Senior Seminar1 creditPrerequisite: Senior Standing; BCM or CHM MajorAnalysis of the literature in a variety of chemical subfields. Culminates in an oral exam evaluating the ability to read and interpret the literature.
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CHM480.Topics in Chemistry1 creditPrerequisite: CHM-230Chemical topics chosen by the instructor. May be taken more than once for credit.
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CHM499.Chemistry Independent Study1 creditPrerequisite: PermissionLaboratory investigation of an original problem. Course fee.
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CHM500.Senior Thesis2 creditsPrerequisite: Six credits in CHM-399 or 499 or taken concurrentlyPreparation of a comprehensive thesis and a public presentation on an investigation of an original problem. Required for departmental honors.